Buyers ready to pounce on Rio Tinto coking coal mines – sources

The sale of two Rio Tinto coking coal mines in Australia is attracting scores of interested buyers as private equity and public companies compete for a foothold in one of the year's hottest commodities, four sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. Rio Tinto is expected to soon begin an official sales process for the Hail Creek and Kestrel mines in coal-rich Queensland state, which is bringing "an unprecedented number of people to the table," said one source, whose company is interested in the assets.